That has been reduced by 76 at first declaration stage today, numbers up on last year.

Also up is the number of international Melbourne Cup first acceptors.

There are 15 internationals still in the mix up on 2013 (12), 2012 (13) and 2011 (14) including Japanese duo Admire Rakti and Bande who are well fancied in futures Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The Tomoyuki Umeda-trained Admire Rakti is the current 58kg top weight of the Melbourne Cup contenders while last start Sapporo Nikkei winner Bande is allocated 56.5kg for Yoshito Yahangi, both set to debut down under in the $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 18.

Other key international Melbourne Cup first acceptors include Ebor Handicap winner Mutual Regard for former ace jockey turned trainer Johnny Murtagh who is likely to go straight into the race without a trial, the Godolphin-owned Cavalryman and German stayer Protectionist.

Saeed Bin Suroor’s veteran nine-year-old Halling stallion Cavalryman won the Group 2 Goodwood Cup over the two miles (3200m) two back and was last seen running fourth to one time Melbourne Cup hope Pale Mimosa in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3300m) at York on August 22.

Protectionist also comes off a last start win, Andreas Wohler’s Monsun stallion having beaten home a good field in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) on August 24 – a race that has produced a number of key Melbourne Cup performers in recent years.

The horse dominating the futures Melbourne Cup odds meanwhile has been the Gai Waterhouse-trained The Offer who remains in contention.

Montjeu six-year-old The Offer is proven over the Melbourne Cup distance having blitzed his rivals by four lengths in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) during the autumn.

This time in he’s had three unplaced runs, the most recent of which was behind Lucia Valentina in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday.

Beaten four lengths that day, The Offer still looks on track to return to the winners’ stall when stepped up in distance and so is being kept safe in Melbourne Cup betting by bookies around the country.

Waterhouse won her first Melbourne Cup trophy last spring with Fiorente and The Offer is one of just two still left in the mix for her to go back-to-back along with Bonfire.

A European import, Manduro gelding Bonfire has had three official starts down under the most recent of which was a third to Gris Caro in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September 20.

Another Sydney trainer well represented in the current round of Melbourne Cup acceptances is Chris Waller.

Waller has paid up for five livewire Melbourne Cup chances led by Who Shot Thebarman.

Winner of the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) back in New Zealand, the Kiwi import has won back-to-back Flemington races this time in including the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) last Saturday that earned the six-year-old a weight penalty for both the Caulfield Cup (1.5kg) on October 18 and the Melbourne Cup (0.5kg).

Waller’s other remaining hopes are then eight-year-old Brigantin, former Queensland Derby winner Hawkspur, last Saturday’s The Metropolitan winner Junoob and Opinion.

Runner-up to The Offer in the Sydney Cup during the autumn, progressive Oasis Dream gelding Opinion was also second when just a half length off stable mate Junoob in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney last weekend in a fine effort.

Hickmott and owner Lloyd Williams most recently won the Melbourne Cup in 2012 with Green Moon and Fawkner, last seen running second in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m), is one of five for the stable still in contention this year as is Green Moon.

There were also a number of notable non-omissions at Melbourne Cup first acceptance stage today including New Zealand stayer Puccini, the Chris Waller-trained Epsom Handicap winner He’s Your Man, Café Society for Waterhouse and Spillway.

Melbourne Cup second declarations are due out on October 27, 2014.

For the updated Melbourne Cup odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au where first time depositing players will be rewarded with a bonus bet up to $500 matching their initial investment with use of the promo code SPRINGBONUS!